Unique Gift Ideas for Moms-To-Be

I’m about 187 weeks pregnant and, according to my family, difficult to shop for this holiday season. I don’t think this is

This is me, Kate Barr, at 187 weeks pregnant.

unique to me. Moms-to-be are hard to shop for – especially around the holidays. Clothes are out (who knows what size we’ll be in 3 weeks or 3 months). Our feet are swollen, so shoes are a no. Jewelry is lovely, but our little darlings will just yank on it… I get it. It’s a tough row to hoe for anyone who loves a pregnant lady. So, for you, my Pip family, I offer you some ideas that are (I hope) both unique and affordable:

Book store gift card plus recommendations

A lot of people don’t like to give gift cards, they feel impersonal. But, it’s also nice to let someone choose for themselves. I love to give a gift card to my local bookstore (Hi, Main Street Books!) along with a short list of titles (with brief plot summaries) that I think that person might enjoy. It’s a great way to support a local business and give a gift that’s both flexible and personal.

Robe

In the very near future, the mom-to-be in your life will be living in some version of pajamas 24/7. Having a soft, beautiful robe to throw over her spit up stained t-shirt will help her feel more human. It will also help her manage her ever-changing body temperature as her hormones sort themselves out. Plus, easy access for nursing, if that’s a thing she’s planning to do.

Pedicure

Pedicures are the best because most of us can’t reach, or see, our toes anymore and feel a little self-conscious about the state of our feet (just me?). Those feet have also been toting around an extra 25-35 (plus) pounds for awhile and would really appreciate the massage. For those moms-to-be who are almost done cooking the kiddo, having pretty toes in labor and delivery is an added bonus.

Extra-long phone charger

I promised you unique… Most phones (I’m looking at you iPhone) come with a cord that’s exactly 2 inches long. That means if mom-to-be is trying to read in bed, her phone probably can’t be plugged in. Since most of pregnant ladies only sleep about 5 minutes per night, it’s handy to have a charging cord that stretches all the way from the outlet to the pillow for late night/early morning insomnia reading. Later on, that cord will stretch from the outlet to whatever chair she’s trapped in while feeding/rocking the baby.

Experiences

These can be especially hard to think up for the mom-to-be. We may be pretty limited in what activities we can do and the super pregnant among us are barely able to get up stairs, much less “have an adventure.” But, that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do something fun with you! Consider taking your mom-to-be out to a movie, dinner, or local show at the community playhouse. If she’s a little more active, you might join her for a prenatal yoga class or plan a (gentle) hike to do together. Personally, I love being whisked away for an activity that I didn’t have to plan or prep for. Bonus points if you also secure a sitter for older kids during this outing.

A Stocked Smitten

You knew this one was coming. Smitten makes a lovely vessel for an assortment of mom-to-be care items. You might include snacks that can be eaten with one hand, flavored decaf coffee or tea, hot cocoa with marshmallows (if you’re Martha Stewart, go ahead and make your own!), a favorite book, aromatherapy oils, or a super-rich lotion (pregnant winter-time dry skin is the worst). Pack whatever goodies you’d like in a Smitten and you’ve given that mom-to-be a pretty spectacular gift. Not only will she appreciate the lovely items inside, but you’ve also given her a safe, beautiful place for her baby to sleep. As a bonus, you can gift her a buy one, give one Smitten and let her know that a Smitten has been given to a family in need in her honor.

If you’re tasked with finding a gift for a mom-to-be, I wish you the best of luck. We know we’re especially difficult to buy for and appreciate any effort you make. Heck, the best gifts for us can be free – a night on the couch with a great TV show and an accompanying foot rub sounds pretty spectacular to me right about now. Husband? Are you reading this?